As per her commitment to give continuation to plans and policies introduced by the erstwhile minister, newly appointed Minister for General Administration Rekha Sharma has started preparations to review the two-shift working system and take necessary measures to make it further more effective.A year ago in December, former Minister for General Administration Lal Babu Pandit had formally introduced two-shift working system--from 6am to 12pm as first shift and 12pm to 6pm as second shift--at dozens of offices across the country to make civil service more public-oriented. And the system was popular with service seekers as they could get their work done. But due to various technical and practical reasons, many government offices have already discontinued the system.
"The new minister wants to revive the system. For that, the ministry has started reviewing the system regarding how it can be made more effective," said Bishnu Hari Uphadaya, under-secretary and information officer of the MoGA. He said that the ministry is mulling to revise time of the two-shift working system from 6 am to 8 am and continue up to 7 pm in the evening and restore the system.
Offiicals at the ministry said service seekers did not turn up to the offices at 6 am and it was also difficult for government officials to arrive to the offices that early in lack of any transporation faciltieis.
Though the ministry launched the system, it has no details regarding how many government offices in the country had adopted it. "So, we have sought details with all the ministries," he said.
He added the ministry will hold talks with chiefs of the government offices adopting the two-shift working and decide what challenges they faced in implementing the system and take necessary measures on the basis of their recommendations.
"The system could not continue for a long time due to shortage of manpower in the offices. Officials were forced to work for 12-hours without additional perks and facilities. So, the ministry will also be working to add manpower and provide allowances to encourage officials to continue with the system," informed Uphadaya
The government had started two-shift working system in district administration offices of Morang, Kathmandu, Rupandehi, Banke and Kailali. Likewise, the Department of Passport, nine survey and land revenue offices, Department of Foreign Employment, Nepal Telecom offices, and Department of Transport Management.
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